Ironing machine



Sept. 13, 1927. H. LOUTH IIRONING MACHINE FiledNov. 6, 1920 '2 sheets-sheet 1 Se t.- 13, 1927. H LOUTH ,038

IRONING MACHINE Filed Nov.6. 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WITNESSES: r

ported at a single end.

frame member 1, an auxiliary frame mem- Patented Sept. 13, 1927.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT LOUTH, OF PITTSBURGH, IPENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC &- MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CDRPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

IBONING MACHINE.

My invention relates to ironing machines and particularly to ironing machines that are power-operated.

My invention has for its object to provide a machine of the character described above, the operative portions of which are sup-.

A second object of provide a convenient and eflicient means for controlling the operative position of certain of the working parts.

Another object of my invention is to arrange an ironing machine in such manner that it may be employed for purposes other than its normal function when it is not being operate].

Afurther object of my invention is to provide a simple arrangement whereby selected portions of the'ironing shoe may be heated. An ironing machine constructed in accordance with my invention comprises a cylindrical roll or mandrel that is suspended at a single end. The shoe which coac-ts with the'mandrel is so arranged that it may be heated, either wholly or in part, as desired.

The shoe, which is movable into and out of operative relation to the mandrel, is controlled by an automatic latching mechanism which operates to effect the raising and the lowering of the shoe upon successive actuations of a controlling pedal. I V

. My invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in-

which Figure 1 is a side view, in elevation, of an ironing machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is. an end view, in elevation, of the machine of .Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a View, partially in elevation and partially in section, of a portion of the ironing machine. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the machine in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a view, in longitudinal vertical sect1on,of a portion of the machine. Fig. 6 is a view, in section, of the shoe and the heating mechanism. Fig. 7 is an end view of a lever member of the automatic latching mechanism. Fig. 8 is a side view of the lever member of Fig. 7. Fig.9 is aside view of a pivotally mounted member for coactin with the member shown in Fi s. 7 and 8. member of The ironing machine comprises a vertical my invention is to lg. 10 is an edgewise view of t e ig 9 bers. 1 and 2 are suitably connected. by tie rods 5 to form a rigid supporting structure.

The roll 3 is rotatably supported by a horizontal shaft 6 that is rigidly secured to and supported by the frame member 1. The shaft 6 is prevented from moving. longitus dinally relatively to the frame member -1 by means of a sleeve 7, that is' secured to the shaft, and a nut 8. 'The roll 3 is mounted on the shaft 6 and the sleeve 7 by cylindrical disks 9 and 10, respectively. The disk 9 is retained in position by means of a shoulder on the shaft ('5 and a nut 11.

The disk 10 is provided with a worm wheel 13 that is operatively connected to an electric motor 14 by means of a belt 15, bevel gear mechanism 16 and a worm 17. The worm 17 is maintained in engagement with the worm wheel 13 by' a notched lever.

18. As pring 19 tends to actuate the worm 17 about the pivot of a universal joint 20 to effect thedisengagement of the worm gear mechanism and thereby disconnect the motor from the roll.

As best shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the'shoe 4 is'provided with heating elements 22 and 23, which arep referably perforated pipes for the employment of gas. Either part of the shoe may be heated by employing the corresponding pipe 22 or 23, as the case may be, or the entire structure may be heated by the simultaneous employment of both pipes.

The position of the shoe 4, which is pivotally mounted on a rod 2 1, is controlled by links 25, a pedal 26 and a latching mechaillustrated in. Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10. It comprises a lever member 28 that is pivotally secured at one end to the lower tie rod' 5 and that is provided with lugs 29 pivotally The pedal secured to one of the'links 25. 26 o crates between the lu s 29 and, upon the epiressing of the peda it engages the main body portion of the lever 28.

. hereinafter described. .The arm 31 has pivotally mounted thereon a wedging block 34: that normally rests uponthe shoulder 34a (Fig. 10) so as to limit the downward movement thereof. 7

The operation of the shoe 4 and the controlling mechanism will now be described, assuming the ironin elements are in opera tive position, with finger 32 projecting below finger 33. As the pedal 26 is depressed to engage the short lever 28, the pedal 26 engages the triangular block 34 to exert a wedging or cam action .upon the part 31, whereby the latter is actuated laterally (to ward the frame 2) to the pedal 26 and the projection 32 is moved out of the path of the projection 33.

Upon the further depression of the pedal 26, to substantiallythe limit of its downward movement, the pedal passes below the block 34 permitting the member 31 to swing inwardly to such position that the projection 32 is above the projection 33. The pedal 26 may be released, whereupon it is actuated upwardly by means of a spring 35,-the block member 34 being freely movable upwardly in order that the position, of the member 31 is not disturbed as the pedal 26 returns to its normal position. The shoe lis now held in its inoperative position without further attention on the part of the operator.

In case it is desired to operate the machine, it is only necessary for the operator to again depress the pedal 26 to such extent that it again engages the block 34 to shift the member 31 laterally thereby moving the projection 32 out of the path of the projection 33. The arrangement of parts is such that as soon as pro ection 32 clears projection 33, the lever 28 will move u wardly so that the projection 32 cannot, uring this operation ofthe pedal, return to its position above projection 33. Coincident with the upward movement of the lever 28 the shoe 4 is moved toward its operative position which movement is completed after the release of the pedal 26 by the operator. It will be obvious that movements of the pedal in the same direction operate to alternately obtain the movement of the shoe to and from its operative position. Y

An additional feature of my invention is the provision of a pivotally-mounted shelf 37 for supporting articles of clothing to be, orbein ironed and which maybeswung 'outwar ly to' constitute an ironing board or it may used for a shelf for various purposes when the ironing machine is not in permits circular supporting frame member, the side portions of which .are sufficiently spaced to constitute a rigid support for the horizontal shaft for supporting the roll.

The provision of means for heating either the whole or a part of the shoe enables the user to economize fuel in case articles of a small size only are to be operated upon by the machine. I

The provision of the automatic latching mechanism enables the operator to change the position of the shoe by the simple actuation of the pedal. The position of the shoe is changed regardless of the position it occupies by a simple depression of the pedal. It is only necessary to exercise ordinary care to effect the releaseof the shoe in order that it may return to its operative position. It is not necessary for the operator to maintain the pedal in the depressed position as is the case in machines of the prior art having similar controlling means.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an ironing machine, the combination with an upright frame member, of a horizontal member secured thereto, a cylinder rotatabl mounted on said horizontal member, an means for preventing relatlve lon itudinal movements'of saidcylinder and sai horizontal member, said preventing means comprising a disk secured to said cyl. inder and having a bearing on said horizontal member, a shoulder on said horizontal member and means for retaining said disk adjacent to said shoulder.

2. In an ironing machine, the combination with a rotatable member and a shoe member co-operating therewith, of means for actuating said shoe member alternately to its operative position and to its inoperative position upon similar and successive manipulations of said actuating means,'said means comprising a latching mechanism, a lever connected to said shoe, and a second lever for effecting the engagementand the release of the first lever by said mechanism upon successive operations of the second lever.

In testimony whereof, I- have hereunto subscribed my name this 30th day of Oct,

, HERBERT LOUTH. 

